Air India Signs OnPoint Solution Agreement for Its GE90 Engine Fleet

February 1, 2011 - GE Aviation and India's national carrier Air India have signed a 20-year OnPointSM solution agreement that covers its GE90 engines. The value of the agreement is not being released.

Air India will expand its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities at its Mumbai, India facility to include GE90 engine overhaul. The current schedule calls for the Mumbai facility to be certified for basic GE90 MRO by 2012. Eventually, Air India plans to build a new MRO facility in Nagpur, India, that will include GE90 testing capabilities.

As part of the OnPoint solution agreement, GE will provide Air India with comprehensive material support, training and assistance on overhaul workscoping. While Air India develops its GE90 MRO capabilities, GE will provide the airline with overhaul services at GE's MRO facilities to support the carrier's GE90 engine fleet.

"Air India has more than 40 years of providing high-quality MRO services in India," said Nalin Jain, country director for GE Aviation. "Adding GE90 engine overhaul service is the perfect expansion of Air India's MRO capabilities."

"Air India has already established partial capabilities on GE90 engines in Mumbai with the help of GE. Three engine overhauls were recently completed, saving us shipping costs and also reducing our turnaround time significantly. This will help us as we prepare to take on third-party work in the facility," said Mr. K. M. Unni, SBU Head of the MRO SBU and Board Member, Air India.

Air India ordered 23 GE90-powered Boeing 777 aircraft in 2005 and currently operates 20 of these aircraft with the remaining three aircraft to be delivered in the next few years.

OnPoint solutions are flexible, long-term commitments designed to meet customers' unique engine services needs. Backed by GE's world-class support, these solutions help lower our customers' cost-of-ownership and maximize the use of their assets. Available OnPoint services include overhaul, on wing support, new and used serviceable parts, component repair, technology upgrades, engine leasing and diagnostics.

Air India is the pioneer airline in India and has been in operation since 1932. The airline operated its first international flight in June 1948. Air India, which is inducting new aircraft to modernize its fleet and expand operations, has 159 aircraft, including the state-of-the-art Boeing 777s, Airbus A321s, Airbus A319s and Boeing 737-800 in its fleet. Air India flies to 62 destinations in India and 51 destinations around the world. The carrier has a strong technical base and its engineering facility includes maintenance of aircraft, overhaul of engines, repair and overhaul of components, accessories and avionics. Thus the airline can provide all technical support to its fleet. Air India has well-trained, skilled technical manpower to carry out all complex tasks connected with civil aviation maintenance. For information on Air India, visit www.airindia.im

GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings. For more information, visit us at www.ge.com/aviation